US Navy 100-Pounder Parrott Rifle of USS Nipsic at the Iowa State Capital
US Navy 100-Pounder Parrott Rifle Number 167 of USS Nipsic at the State Capitol in Des Moines, Iowa
US Navy 100-Pounder Parrott Rifle Number 167 was mounted aboard USS Nipsic in the spring of 1865, replacing the 150-Pounder that had previously been mounted as a pivot gun amidships. Canney writes that the original 150-Pounder was thought to contributing to Nipsic's unfortunately heavy rolling.
Bureau of Ordnance Records show that Number 167 was removed from Nipsic in 1867. For Nipsic's 1868 commission, she carried an 11-Inch Dahlgren as a pivot.
Number 167 is displayed alongside another US Navy 100-Pounder Parrott and a 13-Inch Mortar at the State Capitol in Des Moines, Iowa.
Many thanks to my girlfriend, Rebecca, for stopping to take these photos!
The Type: The 100-Pounder Parrott Rifle is a cast iron rifled cannon with a wrought iron reinforcing band over its breech. It is 6.4-Inch caliber. As it’s name suggests, it could fire projectiles (solid shot or explosive shell) weighing as much as 100-Pounds. A 10 pound charge or propellant was the maximum used. The 100-Pounder Parrott had long range and good accuracy, but it also had a mixed record for reliability. A number of heavy (100-Pounder and 150/200-Pounder) Parrotts burst in action during the war. See the 1865 “Report on Rifled Guns”.
Aboard ships, the 100-Pounder could be found mounted both on broadside carriages and on pivot carriages.
Drawing of USS Nipsic in the American Civil War (Naval History and Heritage Command)
Iowa State Capitol
